Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the recovery of two hostages' bodies in Gaza, including Yair Yaakov, who was killed during a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. His family expressed grief while the IDF continues operations amidst ongoing hostage negotiations with Hamas.
Israeli Forces Recover Two Hostages’ Bodies Amid Ongoing Conflict
Israeli Forces Recover Two Hostages’ Bodies Amid Ongoing Conflict
The Israeli military has retrieved the bodies of two hostages, including Yair Yaakov, amidst ongoing efforts to secure the release of remaining captives in Gaza.
Israeli military forces have successfully recovered the bodies of two Israeli hostages, as confirmed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. One of the identified individuals is Yair (Yaya) Yaakov, a 59-year-old father of three, who was murdered in his home at Kibbutz Nir Oz during an attack by Palestinian Islamic Jihad gunmen on October 7, 2023. Following his tragic death, Yaakov's teenage sons, Or and Yagil, and partner, Meirav Tal, were abducted but later released in November as a part of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
Netanyahu mentioned that the identity of the second male hostage has not yet been disclosed, but his family has been notified. The ongoing crisis leaves 53 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, of which at least 20 are believed to be alive.
Yagil expressed his sorrow on social media, commemorating his father and thanking the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet internal security agency for their efforts. He also emphasized his hope for the safe return of the remaining hostages without endangering Israeli soldiers.
In response to this incident, Netanyahu extended condolences to the grieving families and praised the military for their successful operation. The IDF reported that the bodies were found in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza due to "precise intelligence" gathered by the Hostage Task Force and Intelligence Directorate.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum conveyed their profound sorrow over Yaya's murder, stressing the urgency of recovering all hostages. Netanyahu mentioned that significant progress is being made in negotiations for the release of the remaining hostages but received pushback from Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi, who critiqued the Prime Minister's claims as misleading.
In recent days, the IDF also found the body of Nattapong Pinta, a Thai national kidnapped from Nir Oz, and two Israeli-American residents of the same kibbutz, Judi and Gadi Haggai, who were among earlier hostages taken. The backdrop of these recoveries is an ongoing military response to unprecedented attacks that claimed the lives of around 1,200 Israelis and held 251 as hostages. The war has resulted in over 55,000 casualties in Gaza, according to local health sources.
